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Institute of Advanced Study
External shot of Institute of Advanced study at Cosin's Hall

Mater-morphosis: Transformations of motherhood through matrescence

IAS IRDP Matrescence image of pregnant woman

Project description

An exploration of motherhood, pregnancy, childbirth as transformative life events and long-lasting changes. The theme of transformation across time and space –  through history, global mobility and individual transformations of mind, body, family, work, and health will be explored.

Primary participants

Principal Investigator:

Dr Emily Tupper, Sport and Exercise Sciences

Tracing the history of matrescence as a concept, as well as its possible futures and applications, and its various guises/framings. One aim is to bring to the surface conversations on topics often seen as “taboo” in motherhood, pregnancy, & birth. This includes texts and artwork engaging with regret, pain, guilt, shame, anger and rage, sex, mental health, anxiety, loss, grief, and violence. External activities will include a monthly network meeting (open reading group).

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This project will support the development of  a fledgling, informal network of staff, to grow and formalise a network, taking it into new spaces and possibilities;  events, grant applications, inviting external speakers, and creating sustainable mentoring.

The project  will benefit ECRs in the network by fostering a supportive community guided by members, offering opportunities to share ideas, gain experience in grant applications, dialogue across disciplines, and engage with a range of literature and methods.

Shared interests will be explored and developed into a major grant application, focusing particularly on funding bodies that prioritise interdisciplinary and creative research.

Outputs will include a co-written article for The Conversation, a series of articles either in the Polyphony journal, the Journal of Medical Humanities or the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement. A podcast series to accompany publications is also under consideration.